While every car featured on Barn Finds is special, some are extraordinary. It could be the rarity, condition, price, or a combination of factors that help those classics stand out from the crowd. This 1988 Cadillac Seville STS falls into that category for one simple reason. It is a one-owner survivor with a documented 2,216 miles showing on its odometer. Unsurprisingly, it is in as-new condition and is ideal for someone seeking luxurious motoring perfection. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting the Seville listed here on eBay in Lakeland, Florida. The seller set their auction to open at $15,000, but has received no bids at the time of writing.
Cadillac introduced its Third Generation Seville range in 1986. Downsizing was the order of the day, with the company’s latest offering shorter, narrower, and considerably lighter than its predecessor. This 1988 Seville is the STS variant, a new addition for this model year. The STS package brought upgraded suspension, steering, and wheels for a more satisfying driving experience. Although such traits were not considered part of Cadillac’s DNA, 1,499 buyers handed over the extra cash to own one. This Seville is a one-owner classic finished in Black Sapphire Metallic. Faulting its presentation is seemingly impossible, unsurprising given its history. The lack of paint deterioration suggests the car hasn’t spent extended time exposed to harsh UV rays. The panels are straight, and rust isn’t a problem. The glass is clear, the trim is spotless, and the wheels are free from stains and damage. This Caddy retains its original tires and, due to their age, the seller is willing to swap them if the winning bidder feels it is necessary.
The 1988 Seville was V8-only territory. The Sales Brochure confirms that this car’s 4.5-liter V8 sends 155hp and 240 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a four-speed automatic transmission. Naturally, power steering is standard equipment, as is anti-lock for the four-wheel disc brakes. The seller claims this classic has a genuine 2,216 miles on the clock, which isn’t an idle boast. The owner retained fuel receipts since Day One, providing iron-clad proof that the mileage is correct. The winning bidder receives every piece of documentation for this classic from the day it rolled off the lot, and while not expressly stated, it appears this Caddy is a turnkey proposition.
Examining the interior of a Seville reveals why these cars were so expensive when new. The list of features includes leather trim, climate-control air conditioning, power windows, power locks, 12-way power front seats, power mirrors, power release and closing for the trunk lid, cruise control, a tilt wheel, a digital Driver Information System, and a premium AM/FM radio/cassette player. Cadillac had pulled all the toys from the cupboard, and life aboard a Seville was undeniably comfortable. This classic’s interior presents as beautifully as you would rightly expect from any vehicle with a four-digit odometer reading. There is no wear, crumbling plastic, or other problems. If you parked this car on a showroom floor, it wouldn’t look out of place.
This 1988 Cadillac Seville STS would have cost its owner around $27,600 when they drove it off the showroom floor. That figure sounds reasonable, but adjusted for inflation, it equates to approximately $75,100 today. That means that it wasn’t cheap, with the price placing it beyond the means of most potential customers. The seller’s opening bid figure remains above the market average, but this car is anything but average. If you longed for a Seville STS in ’88 but couldn’t stretch the budget that far, perhaps this is your chance to right that wrong. After all, this car is as showroom-fresh as you will likely find.
That driver’s seat looks pretty stretched for 2k miles
Sold at Mecum Kissimmee for $14k out the door. Ol’ Steve is gonna be sitting on this for awhile, just like most of his inventory of Mecum flips 🤣
Looks like Clayton Farlow’s car from Dallas. 4.5 engine much better than the 4.1 pile of garbage.
I thought you were going to say, if you longed for a Seville STS in 1988 and couldn’t afford one, you probably bought a Grand Am.
This looks so much better than a Seville in standard trim. $27,600 was the starting point for a standard Seville. The STS started at over $33,800, or about $95,000 today. I recall sitting in one at the Pittsburgh auto show and seeing an instrument bezel that proudly proclaimed, “Eldorado Biarritz.”
It has only 2216 miles because everyone was embarrassed to be seen driving it.
OUCH! Lol!
I’ve always thought that this was a beautiful car. It was a test case to see if Cadillac could move more up market to compete directly with Mercedes and Lexus.
It shows off the style of that body very well without the tacky plastic chrome trim, and pseudo coach roof that infected lower models
STS specific parts are hard to find, but other than that, it’s a beautiful car. It’s also a been for sale for quite a while.
My late mom bought one of these new. The sticker was closer to $40k. The 88 was considered a semi prototype year. No sunroof was offered and very few were made. All of that burled walnut inside is real. This thing was quick, and fun to drive. I’m sorry that I didn’t snag her pearl white Bessie before she donated it to Good Will.
I’d buy it but for no where near 15K.
Man, what an unfortunate car to preserve! There is a 1991 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo on Cars & Bids right now with 6,900 miles, and it is bid up to $85,000 with a full day to go. This car is going to be lucky to get $8,500.
I don’t know why it got stored, so I won’t comment further. Maybe grandpa died just after scraping enough money together enough money to finally buy a new Cadillac and the family preserved this thing to honor him, I don’t know. But intentionally storing cars to try to make money later is a bad idea. Even the 300ZX owner is going to lose hundreds of thousands compared to what he could have made had he invested the purchase price in a mutual fund instead.
14K USD for an executive sedan that is new except for some driver’s seat foam deterioration and old tires seem kinda oddly cheap to me. I cannot imagine here in Europe a, say, 2K miles 7-series BMW of the same vintage for 14K even in base trim.
This car has been featured before. And I am pretty sure it is blue not black.
You’re right, it’s blue. A sapphire is a blue stone, so I guess they were going for dark blue with the name Black Sapphire. I once owned a German car that had a color they called Mocha Black. It was a very dark brown.